THE family of a woman accused of murdering her six-week-old daughter at Wallsend last year had expressed concerns about the 26-year-old’s mental health in the lead-up to the baby’s tragic death, according to a brief of evidence tendered in court.
The woman, who cannot be identified, has been charged with murder and is accused of cutting her baby daughter’s throat with a knife in the bedroom of her family’s home on July 24, 2015.
The Senegalese woman, who is now 27, appeared in Newcastle Local Court via audio visual link from Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre on Wednesday where she was committed to stand trial in Sydney Supreme Court.
There was another strong showing of support for the woman, as a dozen or so of Newcastle’s African community packed into the court room. The woman, who was flanked by a Pulaar interpreter, sat quietly during the court appearance
According to a brief of evidence, several members of the woman’s family, including her husband, had noticed she appeared unhappy in the weeks since the birth of her daughter.
Two days before the baby’s death, the woman told her husband she felt “unhappy in her heart”, court documents state.
Her husband was so concerned he went to the doctor on her behalf and was told the woman was likely suffering depression, according to court documents.
He was prescribed some tablets and an appointment was made for his wife to see a psychologist.
The man said his wife later seemed “fine” and “happy” and the couple were planning a party for the birth of their child.
Another family member, who lived at the home in Wallsend, said the woman seemed “cold and not herself” in the days before the baby’s death.
The baby girl’s father had been at the doctors with the couple’s other child on the morning of the alleged murder, but arrived home to find the baby’s body on the bed with a bloody knife nearby, court documents state.
When the baby’s body was discovered, one family member at the house asked the woman “why did you do this?”, court documents state.
The woman told police the mother replied: “I am depressed”.
The woman will appear in Sydney Supreme Court for arraignment on August 5, where there is expected to be submissions made by the defence to hold the trial in Sydney instead of Newcastle.
